Friday, April 21, 2017

Dr. Mickel Malek serves as a dentist at iSmile in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Mickel Malek balances his professional responsibilities with an active personal life, which includes hobbies such as skydiving and scuba diving.

Although scuba diving can be a fascinating, rewarding hobby, it is not without some inherent dangers. One such danger is a condition called “the bends,” clinically known as decompression sickness.

When a diver is deep underwater, heightened pressure causes inhaled nitrogen to become liquid. If the pressure around a diver decreases too quickly, this causes a buildup of nitrogen bubbles in the blood or tissue. Depending on where these bubbles collect, the resultant decompression sickness can cause symptoms ranging from dizziness and confusion to body pain and weakness in the limbs.

To avoid decompression sickness and its effects, the diver must first take care not to stay at his or her final depth longer than recommended. Surfacing must be gradual enough for the body to eliminate collected nitrogen safely. In some cases, the diver may also need to make regular decompression stops.

Divers should also take preliminary precautions and avoid drinking alcohol or exercising immediately before a dive. Exercise that occurs 12 hours or more before a dive, however, may be a preventive measure, and those that work out regularly are at a naturally lower risk. Hydrating may further reduce an individual’s risk, as it makes a higher quantity of blood available to process and eliminate nitrogen.

About Me

Mickel Malek, DDS, has amassed more than 30 years of experience in the dental field. Most recently, he practiced at Santa Barbara Dental Care, where he led efforts to convert record keeping into digital format and performed various implant and full-mouth makeover procedures for patients. Dr. Mickel Malek utilized advanced 3-D technology to aid in dental milling and placing prosthetics.

Prior to joining Santa Barbara Dental Care, Dr. Malek served as a surgeon at Smile Spa in Tucson, Arizona. During his tenure at the spa, he provided oral health care and conducted implantology and reconstructive surgery research, the results of which he published in various journals.

Mickel Malek holds a bachelor of science in psychology from the University of Michigan and a DDS from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. Additionally, he is a fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry and holds membership with the American Dental Association and the American Orthodontic Society.